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At least 649 records · Page 36

Double-pion electroproduction off protons in deuterium: Quasifree cross sections and final-state interactions

Here, the single-differential and fully integrated cross sections for quasi-free $π^+π^-$ electroproduction off protons bound in deuterium have been extracted for the first time. The experimental data were collected at Jefferson Laboratory with the CLAS detector. The measurements were performed in the kinematic region of the invariant mass W from 1.3 GeV to 1.825 GeV and photon virtuality Q 2 from 0.4 GeV2 to 1.0 GeV 2 . Sufficient experimental statistics allow for narrow binning in all kinematic variables, while maintaining a small statistical uncertainty. The extracted cross sections were compared with the corresponding cross sections off free protons, which allowed us to obtain an estimate of the contribution from events in which interactions between the final-state hadrons and the spectator neutron took place.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

In-medium changes of nucleon cross sections tested in neutrino-induced reactions

Historically, studied in the context of heavy-ion collisions, the extent to which free nucleon-nucleon cross sections are modified in-medium remains undetermined by these data sets. Therefore, we investigate the impact of N N in-medium modifications on neutrino-nucleus cross section predictions using the GiBUU transport model. We find that including an in-medium lowering of the N N cross section and density dependence on Δ excitation improves agreement with MicroBooNE neutrino-argon scattering data. This is observed for both proton and neutral pion spectra in charged-current muon neutrino and neutral-current single pion production data sets. The impact of collision broadening of the Δ resonance is also investigated. The absence of Δ broadening is slightly favored, but the larger uncertainties on the pion production data prevent definitive conclusions. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Bogart, B. (ORCID:0000000305588934)↗

C 12 ( n , n 1 ′ γ ) partial γ -ray cross section measured using the GENESIS array

Improved neutron inelastic scattering cross sections have repeatedly been identified as a top priority nuclear data need, important for basic science and a range of applications in nuclear energy, stockpile stewardship, and proliferation detection. For the C 12 ( n , n ′ γ ) reaction in particular, recent measurements have unveiled some structural discrepancies, demonstrating incongruities among themselves and in relation to the ENDF/B-VIII.0 nuclear data evaluation. To help resolve these disagreements, a measurement was performed at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory using a broad-spectrum neutron beam and a 99.8% pure natural carbon target. The Gamma Energy Neutron Energy Spectrometer for Inelastic Scattering (GENESIS) was employed to measure energy-differential γ -ray emission spectra as a function of incident neutron energy in the energy range of 5.5 to 16.7 MeV. The C 12 partial γ -ray cross sections were extracted at 63 ∘ , 122 . 5 ∘ , and 150 ∘ with respect to the incoming neutron beam and integrated using angular distribution data available in the literature. The data show agreement with a recent literature measurement and evaluation from 11 to 15 MeV, but indicate a larger cross section for incident neutron energies between 5.5 and 8.5 MeV. The measured relative angular distributions are also reported and were found to agree with evaluation. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Gordon, J. M. (ORCID:0009000789886897)↗

Measurement of the production cross section of 31 GeV/ c protons on carbon via beam attenuation in a 90-cm-long target

The production cross section of 30.92 GeV/c protons on carbon is measured by the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron by means of beam attenuation in a copy (replica) of the 90-cm-long target of the T2K neutrino oscillation experiment. The employed method for direct production cross-section estimation minimizes model corrections for elastic and quasielastic interactions. The obtained production cross section is $σ_{\text{prod}}$ = 227.6 ± 0.8(stat)$_{\text{-3.2}}^{\text{+1.9}}$(sys) – 0.8(mod) mb. It is in agreement with previous NA61/SHINE results obtained with a thin carbon target, while providing improved precision with a total fractional uncertainty of less than 2%. This direct measurement will reduce the uncertainty of the T2K neutrino flux prediction.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Quasielastic electromagnetic scattering cross sections and world data comparisons in the GENIE Monte Carlo event generator

The usage of Monte Carlo neutrino event generators (MC$\textit{ν}$EGs) is a norm within the high-energy $\textit{ν}$ scattering community. The relevance of quasielastic (QE) energy regimes to $\textit{ν}$ oscillation experiments implies that accurate calculations of $\textit{ν}$A cross sections in this regime will be a key contributor to reducing the systematic uncertainties affecting the extraction of oscillation parameters. In spite of this, many MC$\textit{ν}$EGs utilize highly phenomenological, parametrized models of QE scattering cross sections. Moreover, a culture of validation of MC$\textit{ν}$EGs against prolific electron ($\textit{e}$) scattering data has been historically lacking. In this work, we implement new eA cross sections obtained from nuclear ab initio approaches in GENIE, the primary MC$\textit{ν}$EG utilized by the FNAL community. In particular, we utilize results from quantum MC methods which solve the many-body nuclear problem in the short-time approximation (STA), allowing consistent retention of two-nucleon dynamics which are crucial to explain available nuclear electromagnetic (electroweak) data over a wide range of energy and momentum transfers. This new implementation in GENIE is fully tested against the world QE electromagnetic data, finding agreement with available data below ~2 GeV of beam energy with the aid of a scaling function formalism. The STA is currently limited to study $\textit{A}$ ≤ 12 nuclei, however, its semi-inclusive multibody identity components are exportable to other many-body computational techniques such as auxiliary field diffusion MC which can reach $\textit{A}$ ≤ 40 systems while continuing to realize the factorization contained within the STA’s multinucleon dynamics. Together, these developments promise to make future experiments such as DUNE more accurate in their assessment of MC$\textit{ν}$EG systematics, $\textit{ν}$ properties, and potentially empower the discovery of physics beyond the Standard Model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of differential t t ¯ production cross sections using top quarks at large transverse momenta in p p collisions at s = 13 TeV

A measurement is reported of differential top quark pair (${t\bar{t}}$) production cross sections, where top quarks are produced at large transverse momenta. The data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC are from pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The measurement uses events where at least one top quark decays as t$ \to $Wb $ \to q\bar{q}'b$ and is reconstructed as a large-radius jet with transverse momentum in excess of 400 GeV. The second top quark is required to decay either in a similar way, or leptonically, as inferred from a reconstructed electron or muon, a bottom quark jet, and a missing transverse momentum due to the undetected neutrino. The cross section is extracted as a function of kinematic variables of individual top quarks or of the ${t\bar{t}}$ system. The results are presented at the particle level, within a region of phase space close to that of the experimental acceptance, and at the parton level, and are compared to various theoretical models. In both decay channels the observed absolute cross sections are significantly lower than the predictions from theory, while the normalized differential measurements are well described.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the π - -Ar total hadronic cross section at the LArIAT experiment

We present the first measurement of the negative pion total hadronic cross section on argon in a restricted phase space, which we performed at the Liquid Argon In A Testbeam (LArIAT) experiment. All hadronic reaction channels, as well as hadronic elastic interactions with scattering angle greater than 5° are included. The pions have kinetic energies in the range 100–700 MeV and are produced by a beam of charged particles impinging on a solid target at the Fermilab test beam facility. LArIAT employs a 0.24 ton active mass liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) to measure the pion hadronic interactions. For this measurement, LArIAT has developed the “thin slice method,” a new technique to measure cross sections with LArTPCs. While moderately higher, our measurement of the π - -Ar total hadronic cross section is generally in agreement with the geant4 prediction.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of simplified template cross sections of the Higgs boson produced in association with W or Z bosons in the H → b b ¯ decay channel in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV

Differential cross sections are measured for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with vector bosons (W, Z) and decaying to a pair of b quarks. Measurements are performed within the framework of the simplified template cross sections. The analysis relies on the leptonic decays of the W and Z bosons, resulting in final states with 0, 1, or 2 electrons or muons. The Higgs boson candidates are either reconstructed from pairs of resolved b-tagged jets, or from single large-radius jets containing the particles arising from two b quarks. Proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ =13 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment in 2016–2018 and corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 138 fb -1 , are analyzed. The inclusive signal strength, defined as the product of the observed production cross section and branching fraction relative to the standard model expectation, combining all analysis categories, is found to be μ = $1.15^{+0.22}_{-0.20}$. This corresponds to an observed (expected) significance of 6.3 (5.6) standard deviations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Novel cross section ratios as possible signals of saturation in ultraperipheral collisions

We propose new cross section ratios in ultraperipheral A + A and p + A collisions (UPCs) as a potential experimental signal of saturation physics. We consider the ratio R 1 of elastic vector meson photoproduction cross section to the inclusive hadron or jet photoproduction cross section. The ratio can be measured in the γ + A and γ + p collisions taking place in the UPCs. We label the ratios R 1 ( A ) and R 1 ( p ) , respectively. Constructing the double ratio R UPC ( A ) = R 1 ( A ) / R 1 ( p ) , and performing a small- x calculation both in the quasiclassical approximation and by including small- x evolution, we observe that R UPC ( A ) exhibits a markedly different dependence on the nuclear atomic number inside and outside the saturation region. This result indicates that R UPC ( A ) and R 1 ( A ) measurements in UPCs may help in the experimental searches for the evidence of saturation physics. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Cross section measurement of e + e − → η ψ ( 2 S ) and search for e + e − → η X ˜ ( 3872 )

The energy-dependent cross section for e + e − → η ψ ( 2 S ) is measured at 18 center of mass energies from 4.288 to 4.951 GeV using the BESIII detector. Using the same data samples, we also perform the first search for the reaction e + e − → η X ˜ ( 3872 ) , but no evidence is found for the X ˜ ( 3872 ) in the π + π − J / ψ mass distribution. At each of the 18 center of mass energies, upper limits at the 90% confidence level on the cross section for e + e − → η ψ ( 2 S ) and on the product of the e + e − → η X ˜ ( 3872 ) cross section with the branching fraction of X ˜ ( 3872 ) → π + π − J / ψ are reported. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Measurement of the neutrino-oxygen neutral-current quasielastic cross section using atmospheric neutrinos in the SK-Gd experiment

We report the first measurement of the atmospheric neutrino-oxygen neutral-current quasielastic (NCQE) cross section in the gadolinium-loaded Super-Kamiokande (SK) water Cherenkov detector. In June 2020, SK began a new experimental phase, named SK-Gd, by loading 0.011% by mass of gadolinium into the ultrapure water of the SK detector. The introduction of gadolinium to ultrapure water has the effect of improving the neutron-tagging efficiency. Using a 552.2 day dataset from August 2020 to June 2022, we measure the NCQE cross section to be 0.74 ± 0.22 ( stat ) − 0.15 + 0.85 ( syst ) × 10 − 38 cm 2 / oxygen in the energy range from 160 MeV to 10 GeV, which is consistent with the atmospheric neutrino-flux-averaged theoretical NCQE cross section and the measurement in the SK pure-water phase within the uncertainties. Furthermore, we compare the models of the nucleon-nucleus interactions in water and find that the binary cascade model and the Liège intranuclear cascade model provide a somewhat better fit to the observed data than the Bertini cascade model. Since the atmospheric neutrino-oxygen NCQE reactions are one of the main backgrounds in the search for diffuse supernova neutrino background (DSNB), these new results will contribute to future studies—and the potential discovery—of the DSNB in SK. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Sakai, S. (ORCID:0000000221900062)↗

Inclusive cross section measurements in final states with and without protons for charged-current ν μ -Ar scattering in MicroBooNE

A detailed understanding of inclusive muon neutrino charged-current interactions on argon is crucial to the study of neutrino oscillations in current and future experiments using liquid argon time projection chambers. To that end, we report a comprehensive set of differential cross section measurements for this channel that simultaneously probe the leptonic and hadronic systems by dividing the channel into final states with and without protons. Measurements of the proton kinematics and proton multiplicity of the final state are also presented. For these measurements, we utilize data collected with the MicroBooNE detector from 6.4 × 10 20 protons on target from the Fermilab booster neutrino beam at a mean neutrino energy of approximately 0.8 GeV. We present in detail the cross section extraction procedure, including the unfolding, and model validation that uses data to model comparisons and the conditional constraint formalism to detect mismodeling that may introduce biases to extracted cross sections that are larger than their uncertainties. The validation exposes insufficiencies in the overall model, motivating the inclusion of an additional data-driven reweighting systematic to ensure the accuracy of the unfolding. The extracted results are compared to a number of event generators and their performance is discussed with a focus on the regions of phase space that indicate the greatest need for modeling improvements. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the e + e − → π + π − π 0 cross section in the energy range 0.62–3.50 GeV at Belle II

We report a measurement of the e + e − → π + π − π 0 cross section in the energy range from 0.62 to 3.50 GeV using an initial-state radiation technique. We use an e + e − data sample corresponding to 191 fb − 1 of integrated luminosity, collected at a center-of-mass energy at or near the ϒ ( 4 S ) resonance with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB collider. Signal yields are extracted by fitting the two-photon mass distribution in e + e − → π + π − π 0 γ events, which involve a π 0 → γ γ decay and an energetic photon radiated from the initial state. Signal efficiency corrections with an accuracy of 1.6% are obtained from several control data samples. The uncertainty on the cross section at the ω and ϕ resonances is dominated by the systematic uncertainty of 2.2%. The resulting cross sections in the 0.62–1.80 GeV energy range yield a μ 3 π = [ 48.91 ± 0.23 ( stat ) ± 1.07 ( syst ) ] × 10 − 10 for the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment. This result differs by 2.5 standard deviations from the most precise current determination. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Adachi, I. (ORCID:0000000322870173)↗

Elastic cross section is entanglement entropy

We present universal relations between entanglement entropy, which quantifies the quantum correlation between subsystems, and the cross section, which is the primary observable for high-energy particle scattering, by employing a careful formulation of wave packets for the incoming particles. For 2-to-2 elastic scattering with no initial entanglement and subdividing the system along particle labels, we show that both the Rényi and Tsallis entropies in the final states are directly proportional to the elastic cross section in units of the transverse size for the initial wave packets, which is then interpreted as the elastic scattering probability. The relations do not depend on the underlying dynamics of the quantum field theory and are valid to all orders in coupling strengths. Furthermore, computing quantum correlations between momentum and nonkinematic data leads to entanglement entropies expressed as various semi-inclusive elastic cross sections. Our result gives rise to a novel “area law” for entanglement entropy in a two-body system. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Low, Ian (ORCID:0000000275709597)↗

Average-atom calculations of bound-free and free-free cross sections in dense plasmas

Cross sections for photo-induced bound-free and free-free transitions in plasmas are evaluated in the average-atom approximation and applied to determine opacities of dense plasmas of light elements. Parameters characterizing the plasmas (chemical potential, average ionic charge, free electron density, bound and continuum wave functions, and occupation numbers) are obtained from the average-atom model. Lowest-order calculations of the free-free cross sections, which diverge in the low-frequency limit, are regularized by accounting for the finite electron-ion relaxation time. The resulting analysis provides the basis for average-atom studies of plasma opacities. Such studies are presented for dense lithium, beryllium, boron, and carbon. Applications are given to Rosseland mean opacities of dense hydrogen and deuterium plasmas and to comparisons of free-free to bound-free opacities in shock-compressed plasmas. Average-atom cross section and opacity calculations are extended to plasmas consisting of more than one ionic species, boron nitride, polystyrene, and a composite H, He, C plasma.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Probing Few-Body Nuclear Dynamics via H 3 and He 3 ( e , e ' p ) pn Cross-Section Measurements

Here, we report the first measurement of the (e, e' p) three-body breakup reaction cross sections in helium-3 ( 3 He) and tritium ( 3 H) at large momentum transfer ($\langle{Q^2}\rangle$ ≈ 1.9 (GeV/c) 2 ) and x B > 1 kinematics, where the cross section should be sensitive to quasielastic (QE) scattering from single nucleons. The data cover missing momenta 40 ≤ p miss ≤ 500 MeV/c that, in the QE limit with no rescattering, equals the initial momentum of the probed nucleon. The measured cross sections are compared with state-of-the-art ab-initio calculations. Overall good agreement, within ±20%, is observed between data and calculations for the full p miss range for 3 H and for 100 ≤ p miss ≤ 350 MeV/c for 3 He. Including the effects of rescattering of the outgoing nucleon improves agreement with the data at p miss > 250 MeV/c and suggests contributions from charge-exchange (SCX) rescattering. The isoscalar sum of 3 He plus 3 H, which is largely insensitive to SCX, is described by calculations to within the accuracy of the data over the entire pmiss range. This validates current models of the ground state of the three-nucleon system up to very high initial nucleon momenta of 500 MeV/c.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

First Direct Measurement Constraining the Ar 34 ( α , p ) K 37 Reaction Cross Section for Mixed Hydrogen and Helium Burning in Accreting Neutron Stars

The rate of the final step in the astrophysical αp process, the 34 Ar(α,p) 37 K reaction, suffers from large uncertainties due to a lack of experimental data, despite having a considerable impact on the observable light curves of x-ray bursts and the composition of the ashes of hydrogen and helium burning on accreting neutron stars. Here, we present the first direct measurement constraining the 34Ar(α,p)37K reaction cross section, using the Jet Experiments in Nuclear Structure and Astrophysics gas jet target. The combined cross section for the 34 Ar,Cl(α,p) 37 K,Ar reaction is found to agree well with Hauser-Feshbach predictions. The 34 Ar(α,2p) 36 Ar cross section, which can be exclusively attributed to the 34 Ar beam component, also agrees to within the typical uncertainties quoted for statistical models. This indicates the applicability of the statistical model for predicting astrophysical (α,p) reaction rates in this part of the αp process, in contrast to earlier findings from indirect reaction studies indicating orders-of-magnitude discrepancies. This removes a significant uncertainty in models of hydrogen and helium burning on accreting neutron stars.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Measurement of the 13 C(α, n 0 ) 16 O Differential Cross Section from 0.8 to 6.5 MeV

The cross section of the 13 C(α, n 0 ) 16 O reaction is needed for nuclear astrophysics and applications to a precision of 10% or better, yet inconsistencies among 50 years of experimental studies currently lead to an uncertainty of ≈15%. Here, using a state-of-the-art neutron detection array, we have performed a high resolution differential cross section study covering a broad energy range. These measurements result in a dramatic improvement in the extrapolation of the cross section to stellar energies potentially reducing the uncertainty to ≈5% and resolving long standing discrepancies in higher energy data.

6 ≤ A ≤ 19↗